Demystifying College Admissions

Julie Kim

I’m Julie Kim, and I’m the host of Demystifying College Admissions. Look, I’ve been there before! Navigating through the college admissions process is overwhelming, confusing and ultimately stressful. This podcast is designed to inspire high school students to identify their passions, learn all about the most updated college admissions strategies, with guests and experts from all industries! And the best part is we’ll also dive into mental health so that this podcast will be a healthy, safe, and vulnerable space for all teens and parents out there!

  1. APR 4

    How Kira Got Accepted Into University of Virginia (UVA) - Passion Prep Student Testimonial

    Have you ever felt like perfect grades and sky-high SAT scores were the only ticket to your dream college? What if you could defy those odds? Today, you’ll meet Kira, a Passion Prep student who just landed her spot at the University of Virginia, her dream college despite facing GPA and test score challenges.  How did she do it? In this episode, Kira opens up about her journey and we dive into the strategies and insights that helped her stand out, even without "perfect" stats. If you're looking to demystify the path to Top-tier colleges and discover how to craft an application that truly shines, you won't want to miss this! Before we get started, for those of you who want to learn more about how we help our students get into their dream Ivy League and Top-tier colleges, you can start with our Free Intro Training at www.passionprep.com/masterclass.  Additionally, if you are looking for more 1:1 support, our VIP College Counseling Program - Waitlist is now available. We are currently at full capacity at this moment, but once you join our waitlist, you will be notified when our spots open up. You can fill out our application & join our waitlist using our link at www.passionprep.com/vip-college-counseling-program. Get ready to open your “Congratulations, You’re Accepted!” letter from your dream college! You can reserve your spot for Passion Project Bootcamp 2025, our 1-year group college consulting program to get you ACCEPTED into your dream college using your passion, strength and potential. Start your journey to your dream college at https://passionprep.com/bootcamp! As always, if you have questions, please reach out to our Support Team at info@passionprep.com. Also, I’d love to connect with you on Instagram – our Instagram handle is: www.instagram.com/passion_prep.

    18 min
  2. MAR 10

    5 Proven College Admissions Strategies That Got My Students Accepted Into Ivy League & Top-tier Colleges In 2024

    Would you like to know how our students got accepted into Ivy Leagues & Top-tier colleges, especially in competitive fields such as Computer Science,  Pre-Med, and Pre-Law? Or, learn why you are actually decreasing your chances of getting accepted into your dream colleges without even realizing it? If you find yourself asking these questions, and are left yearning for the most robust strategies to help you stand out in this competitive landscape, this episode is perfect for you. Today, I’m sharing the audio of the Free Live Training that I just hosted last week, where I revealed our brand new presentation on 5 proven college admission strategies you must implement in order for you to stand out and get accepted into your dream colleges. By implementing at least one of these 5 strategies I share, and taking action correctly, you will see a dramatic difference in the way you view & approach your own college admissions journey. I’m hosting a Free Live Workshop this Wednesday, March 12th that I highly recommend you attend. During this live training, you’ll learn 5 Proven College Admissions Strategies That Got My Students Accepted Into Ivy League & Top-tier Colleges In 2024. You’ll also learn about the latest trends that we’re seeing in college admissions, along with any recent policy changes occuring in the college admissions landscape. I can’t wait to support you! You can reserve your free seat at https://passionprep.com/live//!   Get ready to open your “Congratulations, You’re Accepted!” letter from your dream college! You can reserve your spot for Passion Project Bootcamp 2025, our 1-year group college consulting program to get you ACCEPTED into your dream college using your passion, strength and potential. Start your journey to your dream college at https://passionprep.com/bootcamp! Also, every year I work with a select 10 students with the college essay and application process, and our application to the program is going to go live in a few days for the Class of 2026 students. This intensive program starts in March 2025 and ends next January 2026, and you can reach out to our Support Team at info@passionprep.com for the application. Please note, if you are not our current Passion Prep student, we're going to give priority to our students first, as availability is very limited. As always, if you have questions, please reach out to our Support Team at info@passionprep.com. Also, I’d love to connect with you on Instagram – our Instagram handle is: www.instagram.com/passion_prep.

    51 min
  3. MAR 3

    7 Traits of Students Who Got Accepted Into Their Dream Ivy League & Top-tier Colleges

    Ever wonder what truly sets apart students who achieve their Ivy League dreams? Or, more broadly, what the hidden traits are of those who conquer any goal they set their mind to?  Over the last 14 to 15 years, I have been able to collect 7 common traits of highly successful people who have accomplished their goals & dreams. In this episode, I reveal what they are and how they play a pivotal role in your college admissions journey, and your future!  I’m hosting a Free Live Workshop this Wednesday, March 5th + the following Wednesday, March 12th that I highly recommend you attend. During this live training, you’ll learn 5 Proven College Admissions Strategies That Got My Students Accepted Into Ivy League & Top-tier Colleges In 2024. You’ll also learn about the latest trends that we’re seeing in college admissions, along with any recent policy changes occuring in the college admissions landscape. I can’t wait to support you! You can reserve your free seat at https://passionprep.com/live//!  Every year I work with a select 10 students with the college essay and application process, and our application to the program is going to go live in a few days for the Class of 2026 students. This intensive program starts in March 2025 and ends next January 2026, and you can reach out to our Support Team at info@passionprep.com for the application. Please note, if you are not our current Passion Prep student, we're going to give priority to our students first, as availability is very limited. As always, if you have questions, please reach out to our Support Team at info@passionprep.com. Also, I’d love to connect with you on Instagram – our Instagram handle is: www.instagram.com/passion_prep.

    19 min
  4. 12/05/2024

    When is the best time to take the SAT or ACT (For each grade level)?

    Are you not sure when is the right moment to dive into SAT or ACT prep? This is a question I get often, so I wanted to break it all down for you today based on each grade level. In our latest episode, I reveal the best time to start preparing for these standardized tests, how diagnostic scores work and the academic factors that really matter when it comes to college applications.  You may find this episode a little bit more instructional in nature and requires more technical strategies, but I find it helpful to have one of these episodes every so often. Regardless of which grade you’re in right now, what I will share today will give you the guidance you need to navigate the SAT and ACT with more confidence!  I’m also hosting a free live workshop this coming Wednesday that I highly recommend you attend. During this training, you’ll learn 3 high-level strategies you must implement to get accepted into your dream colleges, new trends that we’re seeing in college admissions, along with any recent policy changes occuring in the college admissions landscape. I can’t wait to support you! You can reserve your free seat at https://passionprep.com/live//! If you want more individualized college admissions support, we have our 1:1 Premier College Counseling Program that is one year long called the Accepted Club. Inside this program, we’ll focus on providing you with the best individualized support by focusing on your passion, strength and potential. Your support will include 8 x 1:1 Sessions via Zoom, Unlimited Email Support with our coaches, and Weekly Office Hours to answer any questions you have about your college admissions journey. Start your journey to your dream college here: https://passionprep.com/acceptedclub/! As always, if you have questions, please reach out to our support team at info@passionprep.com. Also, I’d love to connect with you on Instagram – our Instagram handle is: www.instagram.com/passion_prep.

    12 min
  5. 11/21/2024

    Myth: You have to be a genius to get into Ivy League colleges

    Do you have to be a genius to get into Ivy League colleges? This is a question I get often, and I want to quickly debunk this myth for students (+parents) currently navigating their college admissions journey. More than ever, colleges now are looking for more than just quantitative factors, and in this episode, I discuss the often-overlooked qualitative factors that play a crucial role in the admissions decision-making process.  So, if this is a myth that has been holding you back from aiming for Ivy League or Top-tier colleges that you had your eyes on, then this episode is going to be very beneficial to you!  I’m also hosting a free live workshop this coming Wednesday that I highly recommend you attend. During this training, you’ll learn 3 high-level strategies you must implement to get accepted into your dream colleges, new trends that we’re seeing in college admissions, along with any recent policy changes occuring in the college admissions landscape. I can’t wait to support you! You can reserve your free seat at https://passionprep.com/live//! If you want more individualized college admissions support, we have our 1:1 Premier College Counseling Program that is one year long called the Accepted Club. Inside this program, we’ll focus on providing you with the best individualized support by focusing on your passion, strength and potential. Your support will include 8 x 1:1 Sessions via Zoom, Unlimited Email Support with our coaches, and Weekly Office Hours to answer any questions you have about your college admissions journey. Start your journey to your dream college here: https://passionprep.com/acceptedclub/! As always, if you have questions, please reach out to our support team at info@passionprep.com. Also, I’d love to connect with you on Instagram – our Instagram handle is: www.instagram.com/passion_prep.

    15 min
  6. 10/31/2024

    The impact of social media in college admissions

    In today's digital age, there’s no denying that social media has become an integral part of our lives. However, there's just so much going on in the world of social media and I’ve discovered students having a hard time managing all that comes with social media as it relates to college admissions.  While there can be benefits to social media when it comes to college admissions, it can still be very tough. In our latest episode, I reveal 3 pros and cons of social media in the college admissions space, and I share how you can begin to manage your screen time, foster a positive online presence, and ultimately, leverage social media to your advantage.  I’m hosting a free live workshop this coming Wednesday that I highly recommend you register for. During this training, you’ll learn 3 high-level strategies you must implement to get accepted into your dream colleges, new trends that we’re seeing in college admissions, along with any recent policy changes occuring in the college admissions landscape. I can’t wait to support you! You can reserve your free seat at https://passionprep.com/live//! If you want more individualized college admissions support, we have our 1:1 Premier College Counseling Program that is one year long called the Accepted Club. Inside this program, we’ll focus on providing you with the best individualized support by focusing on your passion, strength and potential. Your support will include 8 x 1:1 Sessions via Zoom, Unlimited Email Support with our coaches, and Weekly Office Hours to answer any questions you have about your college admissions journey. Start your journey to your dream college here: https://passionprep.com/acceptedclub/! On the other hand, if you’re not quite ready to make a long-term commitment but still need help assessing your current college admissions-standing, I recommend you book a 1:1 45-Minute Private Coaching Call with me to help address your urgent questions. You can book this call by clicking this link here. As always, if you have questions, please reach out to our support team at info@passionprep.com. Also, I’d love to connect with you on Instagram – our Instagram handle is: www.instagram.com/passion_prep.

    15 min
  7. 10/24/2024

    How To Strategize Your Unique College Admissions Game Plan

    Are you dreaming of attending your dream college and wondering what it takes to stand out in this competitive college admissions process? The answer isn't about doing everything all at once, but about having a strategic game plan and once you have a solid foundation in place first, you can focus on important action-steps that we execute inside our Passion Prep programs.  Last week, I hosted a bonus training for our Passion Prep students on this very same topic. Although I rarely share our Passion Prep materials as I like to keep it exclusive for our students, I thought sharing the audio recording from this presentation would be really helpful for listeners of our podcast. I hope this episode helps you create a personalized roadmap to achieve your goals so you can navigate the college application process with more confidence & clarity!  I’m also hosting a free live workshop this coming Wednesday that I highly recommend you register for. During this training, you’ll learn 3 high-level strategies you must implement to get accepted into your dream colleges, new trends that we’re seeing in college admissions, along with any recent policy changes occuring in the college admissions landscape. I can’t wait to support you! You can reserve your free seat at https://passionprep.com/live//! If you want more individualized college admissions support, we have our 1:1 Premier College Counseling Program that is one year long called the Accepted Club. Inside this program, we’ll focus on providing you with the best individualized support by focusing on your passion, strength and potential. Your support will include 8 x 1:1 Sessions via Zoom, Unlimited Email Support with our coaches, and Weekly Office Hours to answer any questions you have about your college admissions journey. Start your journey to your dream college here: https://passionprep.com/acceptedclub/! On the other hand, if you’re not quite ready to make a long-term commitment but still need help assessing your current college admissions-standing, I recommend you book a 1:1 45-Minute Private Coaching Call with me to help address your urgent questions. You can book this call by clicking this link here. As always, if you have questions, please reach out to our support team at info@passionprep.com. Also, I’d love to connect with you on Instagram – our Instagram handle is: www.instagram.com/passion_prep.

    21 min
  8. 10/10/2024

    Hard Major vs. Easy Major

    Identifying your major and building evidence(s) around it will help you stand out in the college admissions process, but do you select a hard major with a lesser chance of acceptance, or an easier one with a higher chance of getting accepted? This is a very nuanced topic because it depends on a lot of factors, and in this episode, I break it all down and reveal what you need to keep in mind when deciding on which major to pursue.  I’m also hosting a free live workshop this coming Wednesday that I highly recommend you register for. During this training, you’ll learn 3 high-level strategies you must implement to get accepted into your dream colleges, new trends that we’re seeing in college admissions, along with any policy changes that have recently happened. I can’t wait to support you! You can reserve your free seat at https://passionprep.com/live//! If you want more individualized college admissions support, we have our 1:1 Premier College Counseling Program that is one year long called the Accepted Club. Inside this program, we’ll focus on providing you with the best individualized support by focusing on your passion, strength and potential. Your support will include 8 x 1:1 Sessions via Zoom, Unlimited Email Support with our coaches, and Weekly Office Hours to answer any questions you have about your college admissions journey. Start your journey to your dream college here: https://passionprep.com/acceptedclub/! On the other hand, if you’re not quite ready to make a long-term commitment but still need help assessing your current college admissions-standing, I recommend you book a 1:1 45-Minute Private Coaching Call with me to help address your urgent questions. You can book this call by clicking this link here. As always, if you have questions, please reach out to our support team at info@passionprep.com. Also, I’d love to connect with you on Instagram – our Instagram handle is: www.instagram.com/passion_prep.

    13 min
    3.8
    out of 5
    77 Ratings

    About

    I’m Julie Kim, and I’m the host of Demystifying College Admissions. Look, I’ve been there before! Navigating through the college admissions process is overwhelming, confusing and ultimately stressful. This podcast is designed to inspire high school students to identify their passions, learn all about the most updated college admissions strategies, with guests and experts from all industries! And the best part is we’ll also dive into mental health so that this podcast will be a healthy, safe, and vulnerable space for all teens and parents out there!

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